Studenica Monastery

About

This UNESCO World Heritage Site makes up the largest and wealthiest Orthodox monastery in Serbia. Its establishment in the 12th century was initiated by Stevan Nemanja shortly after abdicating his position as leader of the medieval Serb state. The monastery quickly grew to become one of the most important in the country, a status which it has maintained since. Several of the churches on site hold priceless examples of Byzantine art, including a large collection of 13th and 14th-century paintings. The buildings themselves are stunningly well-preserved, featuring the Church of the Virgin and the Church of the King. The Church of the Virgin was actually used as a model for other churches in the centuries after its construction, because of its unique blending of Romanesque and Byzantine styles. The paintings inside the church reflect the artistic trends that followed the fall of Constantinople, namely a preference for expressive styles.